Wednesday, 14 April 2010

Rookwood, fountain

I was quite surprised to see that they had built a large cafe at the entrance to Rookwood Cemetery on my recent visit. I've never seen anything like that in a cemetery before but I suppose it's a way to make these places more inviting and is also used for funeral functions and memorials. This combined florist and cafe also features a courtyard with an ornamental fountain.
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28 comments:

  1. LoisWednesday, 14 April 2010 at 00:38:00 GMT+10

    It sounds like a lovely idea! What a pretty place.

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  2. NishaWednesday, 14 April 2010 at 01:04:00 GMT+10

    I am a big fan of your blog. Have lived in Sydney so very curiously wait for your daily dose. :)

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  3. Regina Wednesday, 14 April 2010 at 01:14:00 GMT+10

    Beautiful fountain.

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  4. MirageWednesday, 14 April 2010 at 01:50:00 GMT+10

    So true, cemeteries always have that eerie and dragging feeling...with a bit of coffee that would perhaps change the mood!

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  5. MarieWednesday, 14 April 2010 at 03:30:00 GMT+10

    What a lovely fountain you´ve got there. Happy WW.

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  6. DebbyWednesday, 14 April 2010 at 03:48:00 GMT+10

    In the old days here in America anyway, families used to take picnics and go to the cemetary to eat, thinking of the dead, and visiting with the living. It tied families together, I reckon, and dying was much more a part of life then than it is now. The reason that the cafe seems strange to us is that we don't understand life and death and how they fit together, at least not in the way that we did all those years ago when the death rate was so much higher, the life expectancy so much lower. Eating goes along with life, which seems out of place in a cemetary.

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  7. EG CameraGirlWednesday, 14 April 2010 at 04:46:00 GMT+10

    That's an interesting combination, cafe and cemetery. It makes good sense to me. The fountain is attractive.

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  8. teJanWednesday, 14 April 2010 at 05:45:00 GMT+10

    halu there..how's everything! waht a beautiful place nice tips:)

    godbless!

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  9. BillWednesday, 14 April 2010 at 07:09:00 GMT+10

    It seems to be the latest trend, opening cafes combined with nurseries, we have them here.

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  10. JulieWednesday, 14 April 2010 at 11:25:00 GMT+10

    I like this idea, humanises the concept somewhat. This particular example needs more bedding in yet, more tumbling growth and disarray. My visit is scheduled for Friday. Want to avoid the weekends and the sculpture ends on Sunday.

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  11. JimWednesday, 14 April 2010 at 12:04:00 GMT+10

    Debby, thanks for that insightful and well considered comment. That also happened in Australia in the past and I believe is what they are trying to bring back at Rookwood.

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  12. RandiWednesday, 14 April 2010 at 12:32:00 GMT+10

    What a lovely fountain. This is a very good idea. I love Debby´s comment, but unfortunately I don´t think we have had that tradition here in Sweden.

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  13. AlWednesday, 14 April 2010 at 12:34:00 GMT+10

    Of course I have seen cemeteries with fountain at the entrance and they make the place more peaceful.

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  14. CarlyWednesday, 14 April 2010 at 13:12:00 GMT+10

    looks like am amazing retreat

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  15. JanWednesday, 14 April 2010 at 13:20:00 GMT+10

    Thanks for showing us this. It does make sense these days when so many people don't have a church funeral.
    They were probably losing out to the crematoriums where everything is done at the one site, including the cup of tea afterwards.

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  16. Let's Talk Over a Cup of CoffeeWednesday, 14 April 2010 at 14:04:00 GMT+10

    This is very unique in a cemetery. Like it.

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  17. KcalpeshWednesday, 14 April 2010 at 17:33:00 GMT+10

    Looks like a wonderful place to chill out :-)

    Pixellicious Photos

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  18. LianneWednesday, 14 April 2010 at 19:08:00 GMT+10

    lovely fountain :)

    leethroughthelens.blogspot.com

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  19. pennyWednesday, 14 April 2010 at 20:13:00 GMT+10

    That's an interesting idea to have a cafe and cemetery together. Lovely shot of the fountain, Jim.

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  20. Sallie (FullTime-Life)Wednesday, 14 April 2010 at 22:04:00 GMT+10

    We've visited a lot of beautiful and/or interesting cemetaries -- that's one thing I've never seen in one. On reflection, it doesn't seem like a bad idea!

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  21. AlexanderThursday, 15 April 2010 at 01:56:00 GMT+10

    Hey I wouldn't except that to be in a cemetery. I like the concept and I agree with you on it makes these places more inviting. Thanks for sharing. :)

    Alexander
    Alex's World! - http://www.kakinan.com/alex

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  22. lina@happy familyThursday, 15 April 2010 at 03:16:00 GMT+10

    Beautiful fountain...
    There's a place like this in Jakarta...

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  23. Joe ToddThursday, 15 April 2010 at 04:43:00 GMT+10

    Never heard of anything like that.. Love the Palm Tree

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  24. maryt/theteachThursday, 15 April 2010 at 06:46:00 GMT+10

    I think some people here in the US would have trouble with using a cemetery as a venue for art. But I love it! I visit cemeteries all the time and take all kinds of photos... :)

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  25. diane bThursday, 15 April 2010 at 20:34:00 GMT+10

    Thats a good idea.

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  26. edenThursday, 15 April 2010 at 21:36:00 GMT+10

    nice fountain. great capture, J

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  27. Gemma WisemanThursday, 15 April 2010 at 21:55:00 GMT+10

    The cemetery's landscape is beautiful! Very thoughtful ideas have created an amazing place!

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  28. NicoleB, EgyptFriday, 16 April 2010 at 00:07:00 GMT+10

    It looks great and I think it's a wonderful idea!

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